Rail Execs Weighing up Tighter Rules to Reduce Train Delays

In a bid to restore our confidence in the rail network, the Rail Delivery Group is weighing up stricter rules for late train services. The organisation plans to introduce a fine for trains that arrive as little as one minute late, which should help improve performance across the network.

Under current rules, a commuter train is only officially late if it arrives at its destination more than five minutes later than scheduled, meaning that 89% of trains are technically ‘on time’. Under the proposed new rules, this figure would fall to just 64%.

Sub-par performers would be fined, as well as publicly named and shamed, while Network Rail could also face sanctions if it was found to be contributing to delays. The new measures are expected to be introduced within three years, which means we’re all going to have to put up with those Southern Rail complaints-related hashtags every morning for a while yet. [Telegraph]